Electric switch



. H; B. BENIAMIN.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

` APPLICATION FILED JUN; 26, 1919. 1,426,81 1 Patented Aug. 22, 1922.

' 3 SHEETS-SHEET VI.

,R. B. BENJAMIN. ELECTRIC SWITCH. APPLlcATnoN man JuNEzs. 1919.

192?h 3 SIIEETS-SHEET 2.

Patented Aug. 22

TORNEYS.

,R. B. BENJAMIN. LECTRIC SWITCH.

APPLICATION F|L ED'lUNE26,1919.

Pa'tented Aug. 22, 1922'.

' 3 sHEETssHEET s.

" UNlTsn f stars...

ovinos.

REUBEN 33. BENJAMIN, F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR T0 BENJAMIN ELECTRICMANUFACTURING COIVEBANY, QE' CHICAGO, ILLINOS, .Pa GOl-EQRATION 0F'ILLI- NOIS. i i. f

To all who/mf t may concern:

Be it known that I, RnUnnN B. BnNJAMiN, a-citizen ot theUnited States,residing at Chicago, in the countyiot Coolr and State of A Illinois,have invented new and nsetul lmprovements in Electric Switches, ot whichthe :following is a full, clear, concise, and eX- act description7reference being had to the accompanying drawing, forming a part ot l0this specification. 1 l y My invention relates to electric switches andmore speciically to pull snap switch sockets.

One of the objectsy of my invention is to provide such a device whichwill be simple in construction, cheap-to manufacture and durable andeioient in use.

A further object of my invention is to provide an improved compact pullsnap switch mechanism which can be conveniently located in a socket.

Further objects will appear from the de` tailed description to followand from the appended claims.

ln the drawings in which one embodiment ot my invention is shown:

Fig.V i is a side elevation ot a pull snap switch socket embodying myinvention, parts being' broken'away to show vthe iny terior constructionF 2 'is a plan view of the socket with the cap removed;

Fig.V 3 is a section on the line 8 3 oit Fig. 2, the switch mechanismbeing shown in ele vation; l Fig. l is also a section on the line 3-8oi: Fig. 2, theswitch mechanism however be` ing shown in section;

Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5-5 oiC Fig.

el looking in tl e direction of the arrows;

y F G is a section on the line 6 6 oi Fig. l looking in the direction ofthe arrows;

Fig." T is a fragmentary view ot the lower portion ot thesocle'tfshowingV part of the shade support and shade;

Fig. 8 is side elevation of the socket and part ci" the shade andholder7 parts being broken away to show the interior construction;

Fig. l9 is a fragmentary sectional view showing part of theswitchsocket;

`Fig. 10 is an exploded view showing the connection Jlor the pull chain;

Fig. ll is an exploded view showing the 35 switch shaft and associatedpart-s;

Specification of Letters Patent.

ELECTRIC SVITCH.

Application led June 26, 1919. Serial No. 306,783.

Fig. 12 is a perspective view of a sleeve which separates the twosprings;

Fig. 13 is a side View of the ratchet-ment ber;

Fig. 14 is a plan view of the shade holder; and

Fig. l5 is a bottom plan view of the soc-het.

In order to give a general idea of the in` vention it is here statedthat the switch mechanism shown is of the ratchet snap type, that is tosay7 the switchmechanism is actuated by a pull member, which operatesthe ratchet, so that a pull on the switch will throw the switch toclosed position, and the succeeding pull on the switch will throw theswitch to open position, and in which the switch mechanism is providedwith a re` leasable detent, which holds the switch mechanism until aconsiderable spring pressure has been accumulated, and then releases theswitch mechanism.

In such switch mechanisms, two springs are usually provided, one forreturning the ratchet after it has been operated by the pull chain, andone for accumulating pressure to cause the snap action orp the switch.

In the embodiment of my invention shown I use 'for these two springs,two coil torsion springs, one being located inside the other, wherebycompact construction is secured.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, he pull snap switch socketshown comprises an insulating base 20 for supporting the receptaclecontacts and switch mechanism, and a' cap 2l or' insulating material forhousing the switch mechanism and supporting the wiring terminals. Theinsulating base 2O is provided with a cylindrical recess 22 in its outerend for accommodating the receptacle contacts, and is also provided witha recess 23 in iis inner end 'for accommodating the switch mechanism.

The threaded shell contact 2li' is electrically connected with one o'fthe wiring terminals 25 by means of a screw 2G extending throughl aflange at the inner end of the threaded shell contact, throughregistering apertures in the insulating lbase ,20 and cap 2l, andthreaded into the plate 27 into which the vbinding screw of the wiringterminal 25 is screwed. p

vThe switch mechanism 29 controls the cirthe binding screw of the wiringterminal 25 and the center contact 8l. This other wiring terminal 25 iselectrically connected with one of vthejbrushes 32 of theswitchmechanism, and thecen-ter` contact 31 is electrically connecte-dlwith-'thel other brush 33 oi' the switch mechanism (Figs. 3, 4 and 6).They brush `32 is secured to the insulating base 2O by means ot a metaleyelet and is electrically connected with the wiring terminal by meansof a screw 35 which extends through the eyelet'3`4` and is thread-` edinto the plate 36 into which the binding screw 37 ofthe wiring termina-l30' is screwed.

The centerv contact 31v isf held in place 5 onl the base20 andelecrically connected with the brush 33 by means of a screw 38, extend-ling through registering openings in the brush 33, the insulating base20, and the center. contact 31, and having a nut 39 threaded'onto itsend. A disc 40 of insulating material such' as fibre is held in placebetween the' insulating base'and the iiisulat`- ing cap 21,.t hisserving to keep any loose y strands of the" feedlwires 41 and 42 fromcoming in contact w'itl1"tliev switch mecha-4 nism. Thescrews'26 and' 35not only serve asg electrical conductors,'but also serve to hold theinsulating'base 2O and cap 21 together. The screw 26A also serves toholdthe threadedshell contact 2 4 in-position on'the base 20; v

` The'switch mechanismwhichcontrols the circuit between the twobrushe's32 and 33 comprisesa UV-shapedswitch frame 43 which may beof'sheetmetalstamping, a Un-shaped ybridging .plate 44, which` may also be. a

sheet-metal' stamping, which in one posi-V tion electricallyconnectsthebrushes 32 and 33 and in another position leavesf them electricallydisconnected, a switch shaft 45 rotatably mounted inthe switch frame 43,a

trip-plate 46L connected to rotate with the bridge-plate '44, aneccentric 47 rotatable` with the switch shaft 45"` for'actuating thetrip-plate 46 vtov release it when the spring- .pressure hassufficiently accumulated, a

ratchet' driven member 48 secured to the shaft 45 torotate the latter,acoil torsion spring49`having one' end connected to the ratchet drivenmember 48 and the other fend connectedl to the bridgefpla'te, for ac-lcumulating pressure to Vcause the snap action ot the biidging-niember44, a switch lever 50h avng ratchetv teeth 5,1 -lor driving the ratchetdriven member 48, a pullchain for! actuating the switch" lever 50 andacoil torsion spring v53. having one .end connected to the Ushaped frame43, and the other end connectedto the switch lever 50, this coil torsionspring serving to `return ythe switch lever after it has beenyactuatt-idf by the pull chainV 52;' i

The switch frame 43 has a base portion `t'se'curedto the insulating baseby 111621115 of. 'screws 55j and has two' standard portions aiicl ,57re',spectively.;Y in' which the inurnal" portions' 58 and" 59 oftlieswitch shaftv 45 are rotatablyy mounted. Thestandard portion 56 isprovided with tour stop vprojections` 59; Vwhichcooperate with a lug orprojection 60 on thetrip-plate 46 to-hold vth'istrip.plate 46 fromlrotation under the accumulating spring pressure until this trip-plate ismoved by the eccentri`e-47 to a position in which the lug 60 is free`from that one of the vlugs 59a .with which it is engaged. Thetrip-plate 46 is actuated to release the lug 60`rom engagement with oneo fthelugs 59a by means ofthe eccentric 47 which worlrs 'in the opening61 ofthe trip plate.` This eccentric. 47 is secured to rotate with theswitch 45'bymeanso'f`a slot 62 (Fig'll) which engages with a flat .por-

tion 63 ottheshaft 45. The trip-plate 46 is relation between the lug"64` and the slotr 65y is such that the trip-plate. will not ypermit thebridgeplate to rotate until the lug 60 of the trip-plate is free 'fromthe stop 59a,

but is such that it will permit the eccentric 47` to shift thetrip-plateto cause the proiectionO to slide olil of the lug59.

Y When this takes place theV accumulated tension in the torsion spring49 vcauses the tripplate and bridging member to snap through a 'quarterof a revolution tok quickly break the circuit between the bindingterminal 36v n' and the center contact at two points, that is to say, atboth of the brushes 32 and 33';

' The ratchet driven? member 48` is con# nected to rotate the shaft 45by means of a slot vinthe ratchet driven member which i engages allattened portion 64 of theshaft ics v 45 (Fig. 11).'` The switch lever50,1Inay be formed ofa plurality ofinsulating y*discs of `libre or othersuitable material, Vwhich may be held togetherby an eyelet.member` G5which maybe formed integral with the ratchet plate which `carries theratchet teeth 51. @ne end of thethe torsion spring 53 which serves toreturn the switch lever may be secured to this eyelet portion 65and theother end of said torsion spring may be caught under alug 66 (Figa: 11)`stuclrup from they base portion ot the U-shaped switch frame. The coiltorsion spring 49- i, which serves togive the snap action to, the

switch is located Vinside of `andcoalrial-withrespectto the coil torsionspringv 53`which serves tovv return the yswitch lever. For separatingthese coil torsion springs `from each other, a sheet metal sleeve 66a(Fig. 12)

is provided which liesoutside of the smaller spring and inside of` thelarger spring-,and

one end oi which is-secured' to and supported on! a hub or lug portion66formed integral with the bridgingplate 44. This sleeve-'66 hasthree lugs67 Studi up therefrom., which form supporting means for a sheet metalsleeve 68 which houses the outer coil spring 53, and also forms ajournal for the switch lever 50the eyelet portion 65 closely surroundingthis sleeve 68 and forming a bearing for-theswitch lever. The end of thesleeve 68 opposite the endwhich bears on the lugs 67 is supported by ahub or boss 69, which may be formed integral with the ratchet drivenmember 48.

The pull chain 52 is connected to the switch lever byy means of astamped sheetmetal fastener 70 (Figs. 9 and 10) having a pair of hooksor fingers 7l, between which the ball of the pull chain is caught andheld, and a base portion 72 having laterally extending portionsextending into slots 73 (Fig. 9) in the fibre discs of which thel switchlever is composed, one of said laterally extending portions alsoextending into a slot 74 (Fig. 10) formed in the ratchet plate whichcarries the ratchet teeth 5l (Fig. 13).`

Each pull of the pull chain turns the switch lever through a little morethan a quarter of a revolution. The motion of the switch lever in thedirection in which it is operated by the pull chain is limited by anabutment 75 9) integral with the insulating base 20, which abutment 75is located in the path of a stop shoulderl 76 formed on the' switchlever. This movement of the switch arm also causes "the ratchet drivenmember 48 to be rotated through a little more than a quarte-r of a turn.During about the'first 60 degrees of movement of the ratchet drivenmember,

this simply" tightens up the coil torsionv spring 49, as the bridging'member 44 and thetrip-plate 46 are held from rotation by thev engagementof the lug 60. with yone of the lugs 59, the lug 64 on the trip-plateholding thebridging plate 44 from movement. However, after aboutl 60degrees of rotationv of the ratchet driven member, the

.movement of the eccentric 47 with respect to the trip-plate 46 willshift the trip-plate so as to cause the lug 60 to slip olf from theprojection 59 with which it is engaged, the relative movement betweenthe tripplate 46 andl the eccentric 47 being such as to cause the lug 60to engage with the next succeeding sto-p 59. This movement of thebridging-plate44 through an arc of 90 degrees will cause the switch tobe shifted from the on to olf position.

`The fact that one of the torsionsprings is arranged coaxial with andinside of the other torsion spring makes for -compactness ofconstruction, as does alsovthe fact that the switch lever is locatedbetween the ratchet driven member and the bridgingplate. Thiscompactness of construction enables the pull snap switch device to beassembled and put in place in the insulating base of a lamp socket withthe axis of the switch shaft extending transversely to the the axis ofthe shell contact ofthe socket.

The insulating base 2O is provided with a passage 77 leading from theswitch chamber 23 to the side of the insulating'base to accommodate thepull chain 52, and the side of the insulating base 2O is provided with agroove or channel 78 (Figs. l, 7 and 8) leading from the passage 77downwardly to the bottom of the insulatingl base to permit the pullchain to pass straight down inside of the shade 79 to give a practicallystraight pull for 'the chain.

The` insulating base is provided with an annular groove channel 80 nearits lower edge to accommodate a shade holdingdevice 8l (Figs. 7, 8.and14).l This shade holding device 81 comprises a pair of clamping members82, which may be drawn toward each other by means of clamping screws 83,these clamping members 82 being provided with bent in portions 84 whichextend through corresponding openings in a shade holding collar 85, thebent in portions 84 extending into the aforesaid annular groove 24 sothat when clamping members are drawn up these bent in portions 84 willextend through thev openings vin the shade holding ring 85 and into theannular groove 8O to hold the' shade holding ring 85 and the sha-de 79in position on the socket. ln securing the shade holder in position theclamping members 84 are so'placed with respect to the insulating base 20that the pull chain 52 will extend down between two of the bent 100inportions 84, so that these bent in portions will not interfere withthe chain 52 passing down through the channel or groove 78, the depth ofthis channel or groove 78 is such that it affords a free passage of 105the chain 52 inside the shade supporting ring 78. The channel 78 at thatportion where it crosses the channel 80`is of course more shallow thanthat portion of the channel 78 above and below the channel 80, but 110as the bent in portions 84 do not extend into the channel 8O at thispoint where the channel 7 8v crosses the channel 80, the clamp-ingmembers 82 will not interfere with the chain 52. As aV matter yof fact,the sleeve portion of the shade holding member 85 forms a sort of acovering for the channel 78 so as to house that part of the chain whichlies in this channel 78.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the UnitedStates is l. A switch mechanism comprising an oscillatable operatingmember, a pull member for actuating said operating member, aicoiltorsion spring for returning said oscillatingmember after it has beeuactuated, a ratchet-member actuated by said oscillating member, arotatable switch contact, a coil torsion spring'connecting Said ratchetand said rotatable switch member, a releasable 13o 'detent "for holdingfsaidrotatable switchv member from rotationto cause energytobe storedinfsaid second torsion spring, one: of'said"coiltorsion `springssurrounding theA berA for actuating saidoperatinglmember, a4

coil'torsion spring orjretnrningI said oscil- 13) latablememberaifterithas been operated by saidpull member, arratchet driven by said,

oscillating member, arotatable switch memv ber, a isecond coiltorsionspring for transmittingiorcevfrom said ratchet member to 15,;said rotatablejswitch member, a releasabley detent for temporarilyholding said rotatable member from;l rotatio'ngxone .ofh said springs;siirrbandingr theotherf, and a sleeve surroundl y ing'oneof 'saidsprings and' surrounded byY 2,01-, the other for keeping themseparaten.,

' 3. A; 'Switchi mechanismif. Comprising en' oscillatable member, a pullmember for actu-` ating saidos'cillatable member, a coil torsion' spring'for returning said vosci'llatable jmein Zgbery afterfit hasj/beenactuated-by`said pullI member, a ratchet-member driven by` saidoscilla-table member, arotatabl Switch mem--l ber, a spring fortransmitting force fromy y said ratchet member to said rotatable mem-` l39;; ber, adetent for temporarily` holdingi said lratablemember fromrotation, anda' sleeve surrounding said ,coil 4torstim sp ring onWhichsleeve saidloscillatable, member is mounted.V y ,4. `L switchmechanism, comprisingan'y =,35:osc1llatablc operating member, apullmember `for actuatingsaidoscillatable member, a' 'spring forreturning/said oscllatable member after it-has been actuatedvby saidpull member, a ratchet driven by said oscillatable` ember, arotatableswitch'arm, a coiltorsion spring for transmitting force from saidratchetto said switch "arm, a releasablede, tentk for temporarilyholding said switch from' rotation to'cause energy to be stored iny;,`5j said coil torsion spring, a sleeve surroundingfsaidfcoil torsionspring, and forminga journal for said oscillatablemember. F

oscillatable operating; 'in ember, a pull mem- QgOj ber for actuatingsaid oseillatable member, a

ratchet driven by-saidy oscillatable member,

a rotatable switch jarmcoaXial with said loscillatable member, a springfor transmit` ting force from saidv ratchet to said switch be arm, adetent foritemporarily holding said Y switchfarm from .rotation to causeenergy toV be stored in `saidspring; said oscillatable `memberbeinglocated between said ratchet andsad Switch armf-f" v comprising anoscillatable member, a ratchet drivenby said oscillatablemember, aswitch arm said i switch arm,ratchet and` oscillatable member n being;@axially-,1 mounted; a, c'ol f torsion lie-Sirf spring extending-betweensaidratchety andy 65 Said rentable Snitch am; fsf-transmitting; ferenomi-Seid ratchet teadvswteh @171er Y a detect erftemporarly heldng SadSWCQhV arm from rotationlvtocanselpnergy to bei 5, stored 5insaidfl'coil ltorsion spring, said oscill 70 leteble l member being; iloselte between Seid; retehetenclswth arm aedsurreundngsedi coil torsionspring. y y l i A; Switch. mechanism: wmprSngf-en 0s,Cil,latablevmembea. a lefhetv member; rlrivembycsaid Aoseillatable; member, a rotar;

'table switch arm, said switch' arm," ratchet;l

and QseiHat-ablef member; ,beine QOXeHr mounted, a i coil torsion sJr-ing forI transmit-` ting force ,frein YSeid ratchet-member to S-id.;switchiarm, a second coil torsion spring fon retiirning said,oscillatableY, member,l one of. said; coil springs: surrolincline; theother, and: bothol saidsprings beingcoaxialwith said, switch ermf eideen# for temporarily' hold# ing said switch'arm from rotation toAcause energy to bestored in said firstcoil torsion; spring, said.loscillatable member being; lojcated betweenfsaid ratchet" member: andvsaidjv switch arm; and" surrounding both ,ofy said springs. f l l 8,. A,switch socket comprisingL an insulat. ing support, `a threaded shellandcentercon tacts and-j a switch mechanism supportedthereby, saidswitch mechanism comprising; an. oscillatable member, al ratchet memberLydriven by said oscillatable member, arota-` table switch arm, a coiltorsion ispri'ng'extending1 between said ratchet member and said switcharm, for transmitting force from .said ratchet memberv to said switcharm, kai releasable detent forv temporarilyfholding said switch arm fromrotationffor-causing energy to be stored insaid coil torsion spring,said switch arm, ratchet member, oscillatable" member and torsionspringlbeing coaXially mounted, andthe anis extending transversely lwith respect toy the axis of the threaded shell contact,4 i

9. A switch*socken-comprising aninsulat- 110 I g ing support," athreaded shell and center con- SLA switch mechanism, comprising an tact`and a Switchl mechanismV supported yby i said "insulating support, anoscillatable mem-y ber, ai ratchet'member `driven by said oscilrBENJAMIN.

